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Scouting Report – Otto Makinen
Bio
Team: Tappara Tampere U20 (Liiga-U20) Draft Status: 2016 eligible
Position: C
Stats to date: 47 GP, 11 G, 19 A, 30 Pts, 39 PIM
Shoots: L
Height/Weight: 6-1”, 179
Characteristics
Skating
Makinen is not a super-fast skater and someone who catches your eye with his speed, but he does have powerful first strides. He can use his long and powerful first steps to rush through the neutral zone with the puck and get rid of opponents. Next to his powerful acceleration, he possesses a decent top speed. Grade: 55
Shot
Makinen has natural goal scoring abilities and uses his hard shot to beat goaltenders. He does not need a lot of open ice to fire the puck and can shoot the puck with defenders around him. He often uses one-timers from within the slot on the powerful to score goals and his timing in those one-timers is excellent. Grade: 55
Skills
He is a good puck carrier and can protect the puck well. He is also hard to knock-off the puck. He uses his vision and playmaking skills to distribute the puck and is a decent passer. He possesses soft hands and his passes are hard and accurate. Makinen is a strong face-off player and can win key face-offs at both ends. Grade: 50
Smarts
One of Makinen’s strength is his strong overall game. He is very effective in both ends of the ice. Offensively, he knows how to place himself in dangerous places and is always ready for a pass to fire the puck. He has a nose for the net and is very effective in the offensive zone. Makinen also possesses good vision and has playmaking abilities. In the defensive zone, Makinen places himself in shooting lanes, has his stick in passing lanes and backchecks until deep into the own zone to support his defenders. He uses all of his defensive understanding of the game kill penalties effectively. Grade: 55
Physicality
Makinen is not the type of player that hits everything he sees, but neither does he shy away from puck battles. He uses his full reach to protect the puck and due to his solid skating balance and lower body strength, he is hard to knock-off the puck. Grade: 50
Summary
Otto Makinen’s biggest upside is his strong overall game. He can be effective in all three zones and has the ability to finish off plays and set up scoring chances. He has not always convinced me in all of my viewings and has shown some inconsistency in his play from tournament to tournament. However, he is a guy that has the playmaking skills, two-way ability and scoring touch to become an efficient player at a higher level than juniors. Expect him to make his debut in the Finnish men’s league next year.OFP: 53.25

Scouting Report – Markus Nurmi
Bio
Team: Turku U20 (Liiga U20) Draft Status: 2016 eligible
Position: LW/RW
Stats to date: 49 GP, 19 G, 17 A, 36 Pts, 34 PIM
Shoots: R
Height/Weight: 6-3”, 168
Characteristics
Skating
Nurmi does not have the most explosive first strides but he can hit top speed within a few steps as he uses his leg strength for acceleration. He possesses some lateral agility, although he is not the most agile or fast skater, given his size of 6’3. But due to his skating drive and powerful leg strength, he does possess a good compete level. Grade: 55
Shot
Does not possess a laser of a shot and it is not something Nurmi uses too often. He is more the type of player who makes room for linemates and scores off rebounds instead of firing the puck past the goaltender with a booming shot. Grade: 45
Skills
Nurmi’s limited puckhandling skills are evident from time to time as he sometimes mishandles the puck. He understands the game well but cannot always execute on his ideas. Given his long reach and big size, Nurmi is a strong puck protector and is hard to separate from the puck once in full motion. He is able to dig out pucks along the boards or maintain puck control in board battles and coming out of those battles with the puck on his tape. Grade: 45
Smarts
Nurmi does understand his role as a bottom-six forward with some offensive upside very well. He is very effective at both ends of the ice, especially with his play away from the puck. Offensively, he is constantly moving around the zone to create room for his lineamtes and likes to plant himself in front of the net, where he can take away a goaltender’s view quite a bit with his big body. He is a good backchecker and is an effective penalty killer. When playing shorthanded, he is effective at interfering passes and poke checking. He has a long reach and can set puck carriers under pressure at the blueline. Grade: 50
Physicality
Nurmi plays a strong physical game. He makes use of his big size to plant himself in front of the net and is hard to shove away from there. Especially for the junior level, Nurmi did not have a hard time in physical battles. He likes to go into corner battles and digs out pucks effectively. After the whistle, he often tries to get things going and does not shy away from after whistle scrums. He is a guy who can get under the opponent’s skin with clean and hard hits. He likes to compete and does have a high energy level using his big frame. Grade: 65
Summary
Nurmi is a typical bottom-six role player who understands his role as such and executes at both ends of the ice. He uses his big size in many plays, but needs to add some extra muscle. Nurmi is a team player and knows his role within a team structure very well and is not afraid to get his nose dirty. I like his compete level, determination and energy level. He is able to deal with lower minutes and make the most out of them. Nurmi is ready whenever needed by his coach and is a nice addition to a skilled team.OFP: 50.25

Scouting Report – Marco Miranda
Bio
Team: GCK Lions (National League B) Draft Status: 2016 eligible
Position: LW
Stats to date: 36 GP, 10 G, 5 A, 15 Pts, 12 PIM
Shoots: L
Height/Weight: 6-2”, 196
Characteristics
Skating
Miranda is pretty agile on his skates for his big size and can move around the ice smoothly, also at top speed. Shows good lateral movement and his top speed is decent. Beats most opponents at junior level with his speed and determination. Grade: 55
Shot
Miranda owns a scoring touch and is efficient around the net. His most powerful tool in doing so is his wrist shot. He can beat the goaltender up high with an accurate wrister. Grade: 50
Skills
Miranda has soft hands and although his strength is to finish off plays, he can also distribute pucks. He sometimes lacks passing accuracy, but most passes arrive at the destination and he is a good puckhandler. He can enter the neutral zone with speed and rush through it with the puck carrying his top speed. Grade: 45
Smarts
Miranda has a nose for the net. He is often where the puck will be passed to and is ready for a quick shot release whenever in the offensive zone, often asks actively for the puck. Miranda is not a pure goalscorer, he can also distribute the puck using his vision and awareness of linemates. He uses his long reach to reach loose pucks and to set pressure on the puckcarrier when playing shorthanded. Grade: 50
Physicality
Although Miranda would have the frame to play an intimidating physical game, it is one of his weakest parts. He does play a soft game and does not make use of his size. Often shies away from board battles and needs to add skating balance and strength. Grade: 40
Summary
His size and ability to score goals makes him one of the more interesting Swiss prospects in this draft class. Furthermore, he is a decent skater and shows good mobility. Where he really needs to get better is how he uses his big size. Does not play physical enough and needs to add strength. Miranda owns some offensive upside but he is considered a long shot and I do not see him getting drafted this year. He first has to prove himself next season in the highest Swiss league.OFP: 49.0

Scouting Report – Raphael Prassl
Bio
Team: GCK Lions (National League B) Draft Status: 2016 eligible
Position: C
Stats to date: 44 GP, 12 G, 10 A, 22 Pts, 22 PIM
Shoots: L
Height/Weight: 6-0”, 176
Characteristics
Skating
Prassl is a very smooth skater who can glide over the ice with ease. He is agile on his skates and uses long strides to get to top speed. Skating speed and acceleration has not been an issue at lower levels for him so far, but could be as he is not the most explosive in his first strides. Grade: 50
Shot
Does not possess a boom of a shot, but his wrister is pretty accurate. He is a pass-first guy and no executer. Prassl needs to shoot the puck more often and make use of his wrist shot. Grade: 45
Skills
Prassl is a very calm puck carrier who does not panic when under pressure and keeps a clear head in tough game situations. He has good hands and can handle the puck well. His vision and strong playmaking skills make him a good passer. His dishes are on tape and accurate, which make him a powerful powerplay player. However, he is not super skilled player who makes fancy moves with the puck. Grade: 45
Smarts
Prassl is a very intelligent hockey player and does use his understanding of the game to make plays and setup scoring chances. He is so aware of his linemates all the time and is a strong setup guy using his vision. He is very effective in the neutral zone as he cuts passing lanes and interrupts potential quick counter attacks with this stick. His active sticks helps him to be efficient in poke checks and creating turnovers. His two-way game is advanced and can make plays at both ends of the ice. He is good on face-offs and can win key face-offs in both zone. Grade: 55
Physicality
Although Prassl has decent size, he does not get involved in any physical battle. He does not compete very hard physically in board battles and rather uses his hockey smarts and active stick to dig out pucks. However, he knows how to use his reach to protect the puck very well. He was hard to knock off the puck at U20 level this season. Grade: 40
Summary
Raphael Prassl is a very intelligent two-way center who can make plays at both ends of the ice. Offensively, he uses his strong vision and passing to setup plays and defensively he backchecks hard and cuts angles and passing lanes with his active stick. However, his compete level and lack of physical game will probably keep him away from getting drafted. I am looking forward to see him making the jump into the National League A next season. He was already the second best scorer of his team in the second highest professional Swiss league last season.OFP: 48.00

Scouting Report – Dominik Diem
Bio
Team: GCK Lions (National League B) Draft Status: 2016 eligible
Position: C
Stats to date: 31 GP, 5 G, 18 A, 23 Pts, 4 PIM
Shoots: L
Height/Weight: 5-11”, 165
Characteristics
Skating
Dominik Diem is a fluid skater with good top speed and a decent acceleration. He is no dancer nor is he someone who makes fast turns with the puck, but skating should not be an issue for Diem at a higher level. Grade: 50
Shot
Diem is a pass-first guy and does not fire an awful lot of pucks towards the net, prefers a last pass in almost all situations at pro level. In a few games at junior level, he felt more confident taking a shot. Is able to beat the goaltender cleanly in junior games and shows that he would be able to do the same at the pro level if he continues to work on both accuracy and power. Grade: 45
Skills
He is not the type of player who makes fancy moves with the puck but he is a calm puckhandler and does carry the puck with a lot of patience. Goes for an extra loop with the puck if passing lanes are blocked. He has playmaking abilities and sees the ice well. Diem is a good pass receiver and has his stick on the ice to receive the pass in the best way and control the puck on his tape. He is good in leading rushes and using his top speed to enter the zone smoothly with the puck on his stick. Grade: 50
Smarts
Diem is a smart player at both ends of the ice and a ruthless backchecker. He does backup defenders who joined rushes and makes sure the opponent team cannot start a quick transition pass. He does not quit on plays and is very effective in creating turnovers with an active stick, shows good timing in poke checks. Is able to make smart decisions with the puck and keeps a clear head in tight game situations. Diem anticipates passes well and is a guy who can play under pressure. Grade: 50
Physicality
Like most Swiss prospects, Diem does not play a physical game and rather uses his hockey smarts, skating and puckhandling skills to make plays. Not that he shies away from any contact along boards, but he limits it as much as he can. Needs to add strength to play at a higher level. Grade: 45
Summary
Dominik Diem plays a similar game to Raphael Prassl. He uses his hockey smarts and vision to setup plays and is not necessarily firing the puck very often. His skating is decent and he plays a strong two-way game but needs to become more dominant in the physical department and has to work on his shot. Diem made his debut this season in the highest Swiss league and I am confident that he will play a decent amount of games next season as well. Playing against bigger and stronger opponents will most certainly help as it seemed to me that he does not need to play physical at all in the junior league, as he was able to beat opponents purely with his speed.OFP: 48.50